Hyundai Kona Electric Long Range

Overview

The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Long Range was a cracking compact electric SUV, especially popular for smashing the range anxiety barrier without a bonkers price tag. This particular trim, with its beefy battery, offered a sweet spot in the market. While now discontinued, it remains a hot ticket on the pre-owned market, with examples like this 2021 model fetching around €21,990 in Europe. Its blend of practicality, distinctive styling, and that impressive real-world range made it a strong contender for anyone dipping their toes into electric motoring.

What's New for 2021?

For the 2021 model year, the Kona Electric Long Range largely carried over the successful formula from its 2019 debut in this iteration. Subtle refinements included new low rolling resistance Michelin Primacy 4 tyres, aimed at eking out a few extra kilometres of range. The infotainment system, often featuring Hyundai's Bluelink connected services, may have seen minor software updates for improved usability. As this specific version was phased out during 2021, these changes represented the final tweaks to a well-loved package before a more significant facelift arrived for subsequent model years.

Design & Exterior

The 2021 Kona Electric Long Range sports a distinctive, slightly quirky design that certainly stands out. Its signature closed-off grille, unique to the EV, and split headlight design give it a futuristic vibe. This compact SUV measures 4180 mm in length, 1800 mm in width (excluding mirrors), and stands 1570 mm tall, making it a doddle to park in tight city spots. The Long Range trim often featured sleek alloy wheels and full LED lighting, enhancing its modern appeal and road presence, setting it apart from its petrol-powered siblings.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Step inside the 2021 Kona Electric Long Range, and you’ll find a functional, well-put-together cabin. While not dripping in luxury, materials are durable, and the layout is user-friendly. Passenger space is decent up front, with the rear being comfy enough for shorter journeys. Tech-wise, you typically got a responsive touchscreen (often 8-inch or an optional 10.25-inch) with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a digital driver’s display. For your gear, there's 332 litres of boot space, expanding to a useful 1114 litres with the seats down. No frunk here, though!

Performance & Driving Experience

The Kona Electric Long Range is surprisingly nippy! Its front-wheel-drive setup, powered by a single Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor, kicks out a healthy 150 kW and a chunky 395 Nm of torque. This translates to a 0-100 km/h sprint in just 7.9 seconds – plenty quick for daily driving and merging onto motorways. The instant torque makes it feel lively around town, and the ride is generally comfortable. Adjustable regenerative braking, often allowing for one-pedal driving, adds to the smooth and efficient EV experience, making it a joy in traffic.

Range, Battery & Charging

At the heart of the Long Range is a 64 kWh (usable) battery pack, delivering a Green Cars Compare estimated real-world range of 403 km – that’s proper usable distance! Energy consumption is a respectable 6.3 km/kWh. For top-ups, the standard 11 kW on-board AC charger will fill it from empty in around 6-7 hours, perfect for overnight. When you’re out and about, its CCS Type 2 port can gulp down DC fast charging at up to 77 kW, getting you from 10-80% in roughly 45-50 minutes.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

Safety is a strong suit for the Kona Electric, bagging an impressive 5-star rating from Euro NCAP. The 2021 Long Range trim typically came loaded with Hyundai's SmartSense safety suite. This often included Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Follow Assist, and Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go. Higher specs or optional packs could add Blind-Spot Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, making it a reassuring companion on any journey, keeping an extra eye out for you.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

Hyundai typically backs the Kona Electric with a solid warranty package in Europe, often providing a 5-year/unlimited mileage basic vehicle warranty, which is pretty generous. Critically, the high-voltage battery usually gets an 8-year/160,000 km warranty, often guaranteeing at least 70% of its original capacity. Maintenance is generally simpler and cheaper than petrol cars, thanks to fewer moving parts. While complimentary maintenance periods vary by country, the Kona EV has built a reputation for good reliability, offering peace of mind to its owners.